View source for Hydroxyl group

A hydroxyl group (OH group) consists of an [[Oxygen|oxygen]] [[Atom|atom]] [[Covalent bond|covalently]] bonded to a [[Hydrogen|hydrogen]] [[Atom|atom]]. Due to the high [[Electronegativity|electronegativity]] of the [[Oxygen|oxygen]] [[Atom|atom]], the bond between the [[Oxygen|oxygen]] and the [[Hydrogen|hydrogen]] is highly [[Polarity|polar]]. Consequently, the hydroxyl group strongly attracts [[Water|water]] [[Molecules|molecules]], forming [[Hydrogen bonds|hydrogen bonds]]. Hydroxyl groups are responsible for the solubility of some [[Molecules|molecules]] such as [[Carbohydrate|sugars]]<ref>Mitch Fry, Elizabeth Page, (2005) Catch up Chemistry for Life and Medical Sciences, Page 93, Banbury: Scion Publishing Limited</ref>. The term [[Alcohol|alcohol]] is used to describe [[Molecules|molecules]] which have a hydroxyl group as their only [[Functional group|functional group]]. Dissociation of hydroxyl groups does not usually occur under normal biological conditions. 

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